Entry 2

Entry 2, March 3

Topic: Earthquake in Chile

On the 28^th of February 2010 an earthquake hit Chile at a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale this is one of the biggest earthquakes to hit Chile since 1960 where a earthquake of 9.5 hit the region. There has been a death toll of around 800 people. There has also been an estimated 500,000 houses that have been destroyed or have been badly damaged; the President Michelle Bachelet said that there is a growing number of people who are considered to be missing. Some news services have said that a number of super markets have been looted and no food of water can be found, Electricity and water services have become out of service.

Article 1: Cyprus

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2010/0227/Chile-earthquake-much-stronger-than-Haiti-s-but-far-less-damage.-Why

Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up

In this Cypriot article it shows us that the Chilean people are committing banditry on Chile’s shattered streets whilst rescuers are digging for survivors. The Chilean government sent soldiers and ordered a night-time curfew to suppress the looting. The death toll has climbed to more than 708 in one of the top 2 earthquakes recorded in Chile. There was a situation where fire-fighters have been pulling survivors out of a toppled apartment block had to pause due to tear gas fired to stop looters from whatever they could get their hands on.

Article 2: USA

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2010/0227/Chile-earthquake-much-stronger-than-Haiti-s-but-far-less-damage.-Why

Chile earthquake much stronger than Haiti's but far less damage. Why?

In this article it summarizes the how the magnitude of 8.8 and also deals with though this earthquake is much stronger than the one that hit Haiti but the casualties and damages appears for be much lower than from the damage in Haiti. Officials said that the damage what much more contained rather than the earthquake in Haiti. Because of Chile’s previous history with earthquakes its buildings and roads are constructed to higher standards. The exact numbers of deaths are varied due to the many rural areas where the population is dispersed and hard to account for.

Article 3: Massive earthquake hits Chile

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100301/Massive-earthquake-hits-Chile.aspx

Massive earthquake hits Chile

Many Chileans struggled to deal with the aftermath of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that tore through the southern half of the country. The earthquake damaged roads, buildings, telecommunication services and cut power to some parts for the country. There have been reports of at least 10 aftershocks that hit the region in the hours after the initial earthquake hit which was felt 2,000 miles away in Sao Paulo, Brazil. As the cause of the earthquake the waves grew to more than 6 feet above their normal height hit the country’s coastline.

Reflection

My thoughts on this tragedy is that Chile is well equipped to handle earthquakes more than any country due to their previous experiences with earthquakes which lead them to build their houses and roads to a certain degree to sustain earthquakes that help protect the people of Chile. I am amazed that the number of the death toll in Chile was much lower than the one in Haiti even though it had a higher magnitude than in Haiti.